A street dog has gone from being terrified and weak to living her best life in a transformation that has amazed the internet.
Alli Jaeger, 26, and Nick Reilly, 29, are on the road as part of their mission to save as many street dogs as they can. They’ve saved countless pups so far, but it’s the transformation of a dog named Cali that has captured widespread attention online.
In November, the pair found Cali in Mexico looking malnourished and frail. Jaeger told Newsweek that it was clear Cali “wasn’t going to make it” without their help.
“When we found Cali, she was living in the streets with a bunch of male dogs who would mount her constantly and assert their dominance around food,” Jaeger said. “She wouldn’t have made it much longer as she was severely malnourished and weak. She could hardly hold herself up.”
Screenshots from Alli Jaeger’s TikTok video showing Cali, a 1-year-old dog rescued from the streets in Mexico.
@allijaeger / TikTok
After asking members of the local community whether they recognized the dog or knew if she had an owner, the duo concluded that Cali lived on the streets. Her injuries and scars suggested she was hit by a car, they thought.
Jaeger and Reilly took Cali into their camper van and gave her the love and care she deserved. Once they got her to a vet, they checked for a microchip, but she didn’t have one.
The stray dog had ticks, fleas, worms and open wounds. She required plenty of medication and treatment at the time, but Jaeger said, “The greatest medicine she needed was love.”
Of course, she got that in abundance from her rescuers.
“She was extremely sweet from the moment we met her. We could tell she had a lot of love to give. She just needed the chance to give it,” Jaeger said.
“Typically, the first 24 hours after we rescue a dog, they’re confused, and they shut down. By the second day, she started to wag her tail, felt comfortable enough to start eating, and she began nuzzling up to us. They begin to realize we’re not going to abandon them and they’re in a safe place,” she continued.
Cali quickly became a different dog. Within 48 hours, she had become Jaeger’s “little sidekick,” following her around.
Jaeger posted a video showing Cali’s transformation on TikTok under the handle @allijaeger. The clip went viral, receiving more than 252,000 views and 23,500 likes. It showed the moment Cali was saved from the streets before cutting to footage of her snuggling up in a blanket after being rescued.
Cali stayed with Jaeger and Reilly until they found her a permanent home with a family in California.
Jaeger told Newsweek: “They are an active family that spend lots of time in the mountains, and Cali joins them on all these adventures. She is so strong and healthy now. You can hardly recognize that she’s the same dog that we rescued just a couple months ago.”
Jaeger and Reilly carry out their mission to get as many dogs off the street through their self-funded rescue organization, Expedition Ola (@expedition.ola). They currently have four rescue dogs, which they’re helping to adapt to domesticated life before transitioning them into loving homes.
Through sharing videos of the pups on social media, Jaeger seeks to show their wonderful personalities and find adopters for them.
“The dogs we rescue live and travel with us,” Jaeger said, adding: “The dogs learn what it’s like to have a place they call home where they must abide by certain behaviors, but they still have so much freedom and time outdoors.”
“The response we have received from sharing the stories online has been nothing short of incredible,” she continued. “These dogs, who once were not loved by anyone, are now loved by so many people. We are thankful that so many want to play a part in our rescue mission.”
Social media users were delighted to see Cali get the love and help she needed, with more than 500 viewers commenting on the video.
“She’s been through a lot on the streets. You found her just in time,” one user wrote.
“Omg, so many battle scars,” another said.
A commenter added, “Oh how I love this for her.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com, and they could appear on our site.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
